(A) Except as may be required pursuant to § 62-3-605 or upon the appointment of a special administrator, a personal representative is not required to file a bond if:

(1) all heirs and devisees agree to waive the bond requirement;

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Terms Used In South Carolina Code 62-3-603

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Probate: Proving a will

(2) the personal representative is the sole heir or devisee;

(3) the personal representative is a state agency, bank, or trust company, unless the will expressly requires a bond; or

(4) the personal representative is named in the will, unless the will expressly requires a bond.

If, pursuant to § 62-3-203(a), the court appoints as personal representative a nominee of a personal representative named in a will, the court may in its discretion decide not to require bond.

(B) Where a bond is required of the personal representative or administrator of an estate by law or by the will, it may be waived under the following conditions:

(1) the personal representative or administrator by affidavit at the time of applying for appointment as such certifies to the court that the gross value of the estate will be less than twenty thousand dollars, that the assets of the probate estate are sufficient to pay all claims against the estate, and that the personal representative or administrator agrees to be personally liable to any beneficiary or other person having an interest in the estate for any negligence or intentional misconduct in the performance of his duties as personal representative or administrator; and

(2) all known beneficiaries and other persons having an interest in the estate execute a written statement on a form prescribed by the court that they agree to the bond being waived. This form must be filed with the court simultaneously with the affidavit required by item (1) above. A creditor for purposes of this item (2) is not considered a person having an interest in the estate.

The provisions of this subsection (B) are supplemental and in addition to any other provisions of law permitting the waiving or reducing of a bond. Any bond required by § 62-3-605 may not be waived under the provisions of this section.